Viking shields, kite shields, heater shields and jousting shields - Todsstuff

Tod of Todsstuff talks about 4 different shield types, how they are made and how they are finished.
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todtodeschini

[@wyattw9727]

Important difference between the Norman-era kite shield and the heater shield of the 12th century onwards is that leg armor changed and got better. The Normans often didn't even have maille leggings, just wrapped or padded leg armor which requires a long shield to aid in the protection of the legs. By the 12th century you see back-laced maille leggings and even full maille stockings to grow in use. So advancements in leg armor definitely had an impact on the advancing shield designs used by cavalry.

[@midshipman8654]

i always liked the “transitional” sheilds of the 12 and 13th century that where somewhere between kite and heater. something about the length of the kite sheild, maybe slightly shorter, but with a flatter top and sharper slightly curved angles. Something about the silhouette is just perfect.

[@Hrafnhistorical]

I had no idea about the end-grain on the jousting shield. That is completely bananas.

[@arnekoets3085]

that is very uncommon on originals there is a antler covered style, very small, for gestech, but all the fifteenth c shields i ever studied had horizontal grain, and rawhide cover with gesso i think the iron ore covering is only seen on pavese too. also, the get to be quite thick, originals top out at 33 mm actual thickness, even though they taper not sure where the reference is from, but i think the only possible examples are not contemporary

[@dirus3142]

Would love to see a video showing how these shields are made.

[@watchthe1369]

Aircraft use a skin over a honeycomb structure for strength as well. The dynamic tension of that monocoque construction is resilient and can take a shock. Hit it solid and it will start to fail though why they were somewhat disposable....

[@DavidThomas-sv1tk]

You focus on the weight advantage of some woods (over oak, for instance) and that's real, but also, less dense wood lets you have a thicker shield for the same weight and stiffness is a cubic function of thickness - twice the thickness is 8 times as stiff. It also makes me wonder if the added thickness of lower-density wood makes the fabric / leather covering more effective. It certainly does in foam-core or wood-core, fiberglass/carbon-fiber skinned boats. The further apart those skins with great tensional strength are, the more strength and stiffness those skins add.

[@QuintenNeis]

It is amazing the amount of design, thought, and technology that went into these during the times they were used. Really tells to the ingenuity of people.

[@rileyernst9086]

Picks up jousting shield: "This shield belongs to a jouster..." Me: "Wait I know that coat of arms, I know of the knight he speaks."

[@kokofan50]

The justing shield is more a wooden piece of armor than a traditional shield.

[@rimmersbryggeri]

This is the kind of armor you should check against arrows and bolts.

[@phillip0537]

Really interesting, thank you for making this!

[@shanejustice7307]

Good stuff Mr. Cutlet!

[@justsomeguy3931]

Beautiful work and great info. If I ever need a shield (or most any other Medieval gear) I will come to you. That guy who jousts for real is hardcore.

[@hvmetalhead2805]

I always assumed that the jousting shield was made a metal, considering strength what high importance and weight wasn’t.

[@Fellfire]

That would most likely have the exact opposite of the result wanted, since metal striking on metal tends to result in the striking point sliding off rather than biting in.

[@Fellfire]

@MrNotadream No, because it could slide into things you wouldn't like it to hit, like you or the horse. The point is to try and deliver a good solid blow and break your lance on the opponent's shield, which is like a a "target" on him. Bonus points if you knock him off his horse.

[@jamesduda6017]

Great video!

[@Rasmus1603]

i would be very interested in seeing how to do the grip on the heater-shield and how you build it on the shield

[@-smp-scientificmethodpersp838]

Wow, the jousting shield is intense!

[@oddthearcher7555]

Lovely looking shields. Would kill for one of those viking shields

[@ME-hm7zm]

Good stuff! I have been meaning to go back to doing my own shield making. Maybe this is a sign, ha!

[@TheSecondHandShooter]

Great Video Tod, Really informative and highlighted some things I never even thought of about shields. I have to say as well your work has an excellent finish even the unpainted pieces. Keep the videos coming, Perhaps one on common misconceptions?

[@TheSecondHandShooter]

hmm perhaps the maneuverability of armour? the shape of baselard blades, how shields were used vs how they are portrayed in movies, the weight of swords. I hope that helps, im sure you have run in to the occasional person touting a certain fact about Messers as truth but know its not the case :)

[@breaden4381]

tod todeschini Crossbow vs shield?

[@TheSecondHandShooter]

Braden Vande Plasse I second this.

[@breaden4381]

I mean, who else makes both 1,250 pound crossbows and shields?

[@LuxisAlukard]

It's nice to look some of the old videos, from pre-arrows-vs-plate-armour era =)

[@schlepedits7486]

I like how honest Cutler is about what we do and will likely never know. This guy is the real deal.

[@nope2788]

Is that Toby Capwell's jousting shield? The heraldry is the same.

[@GermanSwordMaster]

And thats another point heraldry is for (besides looking awesome) we all recognize him :D

[@Wellington10323]

@@AllenCrawford3 I didn't know a college of arms existed in the UK and that his heraldic had to be granted. It's quite fascinating to know this ^^

[@daveh3997]

I think this video has Toby using it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rX3CqqyYf5KnhNE&feature=emb_logo

[@G1NZOU]

@Miss Jae technically that coat of arms is for the head of the family (in the UK at least) and was already granted. Applying is for families who don't already have a coat of arms. The intent is like company trademarks, you have a central authority that cross references and makes sure your submitted design isn't the same as anyone elses, that way you don't dilute the recognition purpose of the coat of arms. Then there's also the tourist shop coat of arms which are normally for a completely different family from the tourist who buys it but shares the same surname.

[@G1NZOU]

@Miss Jae Not at all, it's just the tourist trap gift shops sell "family crests" on coffee mugs and keyrings which are almost always incorrect, as they're crests for a particular family and not just anyone who shares the same surname.

[@nelumbonucifera7537]

I have lots of questions about that jousting shield. How was the backing board formed? Are the end grain tiles glued directly to the backer? Why isn't wood movement a problem, given the varying grain orientations?

[@GeoffSayre]

I would be very interested to see a video explaining how you make the boards for a shield. Are they jointed together or glued? Do you start from a very large block of boards and carve it down to the final thickness? I just don't know and would like to learn. Thank you for making this interesting video.

[@whowantsabighug]

Isn't that Tobias Capwell's heraldry on the jousting shield?

[@siouxsettewerks]

Indeed I believe it is!

[@ivyironworks6698]

I made a kite shield and I'm making a round shield right now😁

[@twogungunnar9456]

Are you sure the straps were arranged that way on the heater shield? How do we know how the heater shield straps were angled, or is it just an arbitrary choice or informed guess? Are there any historic sources for the strap arrangement? If so, what does that tell us about how they were used?

[@elephantspaintingelephants]

Man I love your videos. The audio was bad on this one.

[@matthewmuir8884]

Cool video, Todd. Just wondering; have you ever made a Celtic Shield?

[@AKRex]

Can the jousting shiled be effective on a battlefield as well? the design certainly looks like it can be. I have seen some renditions of smaller versions of pavise shields and some "heart shaped" ones, but was wondering about these jousting ones.

[@mathiasgreyjoy1611]

Tod, what is the thickness of the average Heater/kite shield? I am trying to make one, and I need to figure out how thick the wood itself should be.

[@Ariovistvs]

I'd love to see how a jousting shield like that is made. I could not find anything on the internet. Do you have any book recommendations or something the like?

[@hacheurdepoulet]

Did You make Toby's Shield ? :) I didn't know you made jousting shields! I'll shoot an Email your way

[@hacheurdepoulet]

Done, thanks a lot !

[@foreverpinkf.7603]

You strongly need a windshield for your mike. Apart from this I like your videos- lots of information brought in a pleasant way.

[@lancerd4934]

Tfw you know who the shield belongs to just from the heraldry.

[@airnt]

isn't linden 0,67 ton per m3 and poplar way less? like half? linden is more like birch in weight as to fasing viking shields, the Latvia example was covered in rawhide front and back, but padded in grass, so no gluing presumably. also the gokstad shields were painted straight onto the wood, but had holes for stitching there are more fragments of paint straight onto the wood for viking shields as to the heater shields, nearly all of the marburg shields are covered front and back in rawhide and still taper to the edges i know there is some that are covered in cloth and gesso, but nearly all extant shields are rawhide, even with 3d sculpture in rawhide and gesso. as to the 15th c shield, the Uppsala shield is made in horizontal (supposedly birch) planks, carved back, so the same direction of grain as the viking shields. Not sure of the shields in Met, but also single layer of wood, rawhide, gesso

[@fkane49]

How is the curve in the heater achieved please, thanks in advance

[@samuelyeates2326]

How do you fix the planks together on the viking shield? For my shield, also made from poplar boards, I nailed the boards to the spine/handle prior to applying the glue and coverings. I had to detach the handle before covering the back side.

[@Hrafnhistorical]

The conventional wisdom is that they were just glued together, not nailed or pegged or anything. Then the covering and the rim binds it all together more securely, the handle nailed or pinned onto the back re-enforces the lot, add extra metalwork banding if you're feeling fancy.

[@elgostine]

what he said

[@Jrez]

I bought a heater shield but it has done abaolutely nothing to help with my gas bill.

[@jemparsons4398]

What documentation do you have for the linen jesso shield covering?

[@markseal6685]

I still have not been able to find out where the name 'heater' shield came from

[@wren7195]

Hi! If I remember correctly, "heater" is a Victorian term used to describe these shields because they resembled clothing hot irons, heaters. The steam irons we use today are based on the same design, back then they were real iron and just heated in the fire, then used to press clothing. The shapes were similar, so ... "heaters." If that's what you meant by where the name came from. If you mean who exactly used the term first, when, etc. I'm afraid I don't know. Heck that information above may be incomplete, I'm going off the top of my head from what I read. Hope it helps, maybe it'll help you in your research :) Best wishes

[@philipwebb960]

Irons weren't heated in the fire; they were heated by the fire. If they were IN the fire, they would be so hot they would scortch the clothes plus get soot on them.

[@wren7195]

@@philipwebb960 correct, was merely a semantic slip on my part. Kind of like how we obviously cook "in the fire" but we rarely throw our food directly IN the fire. :) But thanks

[@GermanSwordMaster]

That XIIIth cent shield has a rim. Thats ahistorical, right? That estrucheon is toby capwells, isnt it? :)

[@jonasstenbergkarlsson5934]

So, I got a batch of historical miniatures, including knights. And there's a bunch of jousting shields. Were they used in battles, or purely for jousting? Perry miniatures Agincourt mounted knights to be specifik (1415-1429)

[@huskymawson]

How do you get the warp out of a warped single lined shield? Do you soak and set it? I've got one with that exact problem. Feel like you only get one go at it.

[@kaaajeee]

what are your thoughts on heater shields with the bottom corner curved out front towards the opponent? kinda like the jousting one. i am thinking its for deflection of downwards strikes away from your legs.

[@yetanother9127]

If I were a herald, I'd blazon that heater shield as _ermines, a cross vert_ (not "ermine" but "ermines", there's a difference). Back me up, anyone?

[@franik11]

It's true, this symbol come from France, particularly in Bretagne (north west).

[@casonastudios1228]

Is there any evidence for Shields ad 1300 with a Rawhide Edge?

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

I may not get an answer but on older shield designs (Celtic and Norse) some say rawhide facing (which can be easily repaired) and others say fabric such as linen. Is there any historical evidence as to what was used?

[@Cahirable]

Can I ask who the jouster is and if they have any sort of public presence that I could use to get in contact with them? I've been working on a little article on medieval cavalry warfare, but it's all theory at this point. It would be wonderful to be able to ask someone with practical experience some of the questions I have and see what information they're aware of that I'm not.

[@siouxsettewerks]

Judging from the heraldry, it's one of Tobias Capwell's shields! He is the curator of the arms and armours at the Wallace Collection! Considering that he's bent on passing knowledge down, through books and videos, you might have a chance of contacting him... www.orderofthecrescent.com/capwell.htm s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/34/bb/ea/34bbeaa1f529ffc06b0df46fff77e8fd.jpg

[@teakew8217]

That's Tobias Capwell's shield, as noted. You could also try asking Arne Koets, who's a relatively public and high quality jouster/mounted combat practitioner. Jack Gassmann also does a line in mounted combat, and I seem to recall has written an article or two for Acta Periodica Duellatorum about it. Beyond that, there's the French Rossfechten crowd who organise an edition of the Rossfechten symposium, and Academie Duello in Canada also do mounted combat. And there's undoubtedly further groups, those are just the ones that first spring to mind.

[@Cahirable]

siouxsettewerks Thanks for the heads up!

[@Cahirable]

Tea Kew Thank you very much! I'll try and get in touch with those groups.

[@johnhiers7221]

I know fantasy shields aren’t real but I had a question. The heater shield, if made bigger (heater profile but similar to kite in size) could it be used in a shield wall? I see large heaters allot in fantasy and used in shield walls. Just was curious

[@DrTheRich]

Great video, but the wind noise is very loud..., Maybe you can trim off the low frequencys with an equalizer next time.

[@loganplourde886]

Would cedar make good shield wood, my own personal opinion is probably yes but I’m more of a general tree person that a shield person

[@mjfleming319]

Do you think cedar would tend to split crisply, unlike the more fibrous poplar, and thus be less effective?

[@Kratatch]

Straps? Since when did they use straps on shields? That is asking for trouble.

[@pablosorensen]

Where would one buy poplar planks, in the UK?

[@2adamast]

Here poplar plywood is easy to find

[@deanrakic34]

Were shields ever edged in metal?

[@deanrakic34]

@@tods_workshop very interesting, thanks for the response. I really appreciate it

[@Fabianwew]

And by that he means the migration period?

[@UsenameTakenWasTaken]

But what did he say?

[@legofanguyvid]

makes me wonder, did anyone ever think to cover their sheild in a thin sheet of like iron or steel or bronze? sorta like how ancient hoplons where covered?

[@HaNsWiDjAjA]

Would such shields stop a crossbow bolt at all?

[@loganplourde886]

Not stop but maybe deflect

[@Alastair510]

What is the purpose of the boss on these shields?

[@mrjbettison638]

You could also smack someone in the mush with it?

[@andi_wyldlander]

Wouldn’t they use planks as apposed to plywood?

[@julesdebeckker627]

Yes they would've but these shields are ones he made for customers. Making them out of plywood is cheaper for the customer than making them out of planks and it looks the same when painted and covered. Plus, the heater shield was planked and the center gripped round shield was also I think

[@Tipi_Dan]

What about metal edging on shields? I came to understand this was not favored because it would be good if one's opponent's sword got stuck in the edge of one's shield. Still, I see metal edges on reproduction shields from many eras--- most commonly on reenactor's Roman scutums, but even on museum reproductions of historical shields such as the Sutton Hoo shield. So what's up with that? Also--- how do you make a domed or dished round shield, how common were they, did different cultures who used them use different techniques of construction?

[@GerackSerack]

3:52 "This shield weighs about around 5kg" Is that... metric system? OMG ♥◡♥ You are one up in my ranking of favourite KZbinrs, Tod.

[@zacrigby4426]

GerackSerack you're saying he wasn't first? You a heretic?

[@GerackSerack]

OK, you are number one now... xD Joking aside, the merit of the imperial system is that it's based on body sizes. For example, an ich is the lenght of a thumb phalanx, while a feet is the length of a short step. That can be pretty handy, specially in the past, when there weren't many precise measuring tools around. Nowdays, however, I think the imperial system is outdated. I only use imperial when playing D&D, to give it a more medieval vibe.

[@neilwilson5785]

A true engineer's reply. Excellent.

[@MadNumForce]

The imperial system isn't based on body size of the measurer, it's an arbitrary convention every measurer has to use regardless of his own body. I don't know how things were in England, but in France, thought there was a royal inch, royal foot, etc, there were also a myriad of local and ancient standards of lengths, gauges/diameters, volumes and weights coexisting, making it a real mess especially for trade. So in the end, it had the same aspect of being arbitrary and conventional, without the asserted advantage of being based on the body (since it's not that of the measurer, which would annihilate the whole idea of measure), but with the extra trouble that this very claim helped the emergence of a hundred of local standards for which you had to establish conversion ratios.

[@davidmiller9485]

@@MadNumForce i know this is old but... you do know that the french were sending over a "official" cube that was a inch i believe that was to be the standard. The ship sank, so the U.S. did it themselves. Imperial measurements do have "official" references.

[@bramstoker3311]

Make a test of the Shields strength against arrows and weapons Greetings from Denmark fomer ruler of britannia

[@tods_workshop]

A good idea - thanks. from 2 miles inside the Danelaw

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

And now for something completely different.

[@hunterterrell9930]

"I can snap it, and it wants to tear" *breaks with fingers* "See. It's really quite a resilient wood"

[@Kan5Demon]

Just saying, they wouldn't have used them if they didn't work.

[@collectorduck9061]

What he means is that even if it snaps, the fibres of the wood still hangs onto eachother in strands and he has to tear them off.

[@secario2135]

you forgot the buckler

[@markcorrigan3930]

0:28 viking shield

[@markcorrigan3930]

7:00 late medieval shield

[@Savage-tt8tl]

ow my god the wind in the microphone is destroying my ears 😂

[@edwardhumble913]

Your voice kept fading in and out .

[@tzoninghard2425]

Inches pls.

[@iwritechecksatthegrocerystore]

TZoningHard 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 cm = 100 mm. There you go.

[@phil20_20]

Why don't you call them "Radiator Shields?"

[@garychynne1377]

norman shields are made of common sense. thank yew

[@UnivegaSuperSport]

Wanna have fun? Go split some wet popular logs.

[@khizqiyaohara595]

he forgot one shield,Hungarian style shield

[@jeroylenkins1745]

Kite shield > Round shield

[@timesthree5757]

I don't actually think shields were that thin. To me I'm thinking about it and thinking about the finds. Well these shields they find are sitting there shrinking because of age. Second vikings are pirates they are not looking for a fancy dual. They are looking for loot. Then people say but you don't want something heavy. True. But I work as a mechanic all day. I've worked on farms, logging camps. Hard manual labor. I'm used to the weight so would the guy in 800 AD. I made a 3\4 inch thick viking shield carried it all day. Used it. Swung it around works really, really well in a shield wall. I think there were three types of shield made. Ones made for decorations, ones made for fancy duels, and ones made for piracy. I know that if I'm raiding and pillaging I don't want something that I have to learn to deflect a sword blow or would shatter when hit by a mace or hammer. I want something that I can use to bulldoze through to kipe his stuff. Trust me as a pirate\viking if I have to run away I'm leaving the shield behind. I know history buff are going to lose their minds. I'm coming from someone that got in trouble while I was young. So I know how to think like a pirate\viking.

[@mjfleming319]

TimesThree interesting thoughts. I just ran across another video that cited a thickness of 7mm for Viking shields and I wondered some of the same things you’re asking. The other you tuber, however, claimed that there’s little to no evidence that Vikings fought in shield walls, and that in fact there is no such word in Old Norse. He also noted that Vikings often didn’t fare well in large pitched battles. Perhaps being pirates they had little use for heavy shields and relied on hit and run tactics. Hopefully Tod will weigh in with his thoughts.

[@hamiltonarraou8797]

The cute traffic dolly trade because underpants superfamily punish under a grateful gratis share. shut, sweltering toad

[@stocktonjoans]

forcing a horse to go through that is animal abuse

[@markhorton3994]

BULL!!